It害羞草研究所檚 been seven years of anguish, frustration and a constant battle for justice for the families of Derek Descoteau and Janelle Guyatt.

On May 20, 2016, Descoteau was stabbed to death while at his father害羞草研究所檚 residence in Chemainus. Guyatt, his girlfriend, suffered serious knife wounds but survived. The pair had been eating lunch and watching a movie when a shirtless man appeared holding a knife, then started slashing.

Colin John, found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder March 20 after a long court process, has a B.C. Review Board hearing Wednesday that害羞草研究所檚 adding more fuel to the fire for the families.

Descoteau害羞草研究所檚 mom Brenda Smith and aunt Kristina Tkackuk, along with Janelle害羞草研究所檚 mom Leah Guyatt, are making the trip to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam where John is housed for the hearing.

The three of them are prepared to read victim impact statements, but it won害羞草研究所檛 be to the extent they originally intended.

害羞草研究所淲e all got our redacted copies of what we害羞草研究所檙e allowed to say,害羞草研究所� noted Tkachuk.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 disheartening,害羞草研究所� said Guyatt. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e not really able to say what you truly feel. It害羞草研究所檚 got to be sugar-coated.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e feel like we害羞草研究所檙e suppressed every time we turn around,害羞草研究所� added Tkachuk.

There害羞草研究所檚 no a guarantee the three will have their say at all, other than the written statements, with John expected to be in attendance to hear it. They害羞草研究所檝e been told it害羞草研究所檚 only if time permits and the hearing must be concluded at 4 p.m. that day, with no extensions.

There are many other victim impact statements from family and friends. Family members have been told by Crown that all Review Board members are obligated to read them before the hearing.

The Review Board panel will consist of psychiatrists, a community member such as a social worker and lawyers for the Crown and defence.

害羞草研究所淭hey discuss what害羞草研究所檚 gone on with him while he害羞草研究所檚 been there,害羞草研究所� Tkachuk explained.

The Review Board has taken over jurisdiction of the accused and must make a decision within a month, by June 17, with one of three possible outcomes: an absolute discharge; a conditional discharge; or detention in custody in a hospital.

Those plausible outcomes have the families outraged since it means John could still be out within a year even with the third option when his case would be reviewed again.

害羞草研究所淪eriously, he will be out by next year if he shows empathy,害羞草研究所� stated Smith.

This case took what seemed like a dramatic turn in December of 2021 when John pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Descoteau and a downgraded charge of aggravated assault against Janelle Guyatt.

A subsequent court appearance led Justice Lisa Warren to order a pre-sentence report and then an application by the defence for a not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder determination came out of the blue.

That resulted in another series of hearings in 2022 and stretching into March of 2023 when Warren read a lengthy statement in which she agreed the assessment of John left him not criminally responsible for the death of Descoteau.

害羞草研究所淲e asked for an appeal,害羞草研究所� said Smith. 害羞草研究所淭hey had the regional Crown review and there won害羞草研究所檛 be an appeal.害羞草研究所�

The determination not to appeal was made by deputy regional Crown Counsel Joel Gold, but the families don害羞草研究所檛 feel his review of the case was adequate.

害羞草研究所淲e still want an appeal,害羞草研究所� Smith reiterated.

She feels a second set of eyes needs to look more closely at all the facts.

害羞草研究所淲e need petitions,害羞草研究所� said Smith. 害羞草研究所淗e is a dangerous person. He could be back living in our little town of Chemainus. We could go over there on Wednesday and he could get partial discharge. We害羞草研究所檙e fearful for all the Chemainus community.害羞草研究所�

Smith wonders all the time about what life would have been like if Derek hadn害羞草研究所檛 been taken away.

害羞草研究所淚 thought I害羞草研究所檇 be having little Derek babies running around,害羞草研究所� she said.

Life害羞草研究所檚 been equally hard for the Guyatts. Janelle is now 23, but has been impacted heavily by four surgeries.

害羞草研究所淪he lives with a disability,害羞草研究所� said her mother Leah. 害羞草研究所淚 think she personally decided enough was enough (surgeries). She害羞草研究所檚 a young adult now and I let her be that way.害羞草研究所�

The resolve all the family members have shown has made their bond stronger.

害羞草研究所淭his is the only good thing that害羞草研究所檚 come out of this is the group,害羞草研究所� said Tkachuk.

The anniversary of Derek害羞草研究所檚 death will be marked as it is each year with a visit to the DD memorial site on the Pacific Marine Circle Route between Mesachie Lake and Port Renfrew that includes tributes to Derek害羞草研究所檚 brother Dustin, who died three years earlier in a car accident,

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just so hard,害羞草研究所� summed up Smith. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e caught up in this anxiety and stress.害羞草研究所�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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